US Slaps Visa Restrictions as Guatemala's Public Ministry Undermines Democracy: International Concerns Mount
The US expresses concern as Guatemala's Public Ministry undermines power transfer to President-elect Arevalo. Visa restrictions imposed, international criticism grows, and democratic norms are questioned.
The US State Department has expressed grave concern over Guatemala's Public Ministry's attempts to undermine the transfer of power to President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, who won by a landslide victory in August. The ministry, which operates similarly to an attorney general, carried out a raid on Friday at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, taking hold of tabulations from the general voting process. In response, the US is imposing visa restrictions on current and former members of Congress, justice officials, and anyone else involved in undermining democracy.
“We are actively taking steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who continue to undermine Guatemala’s democracy, including current and former members of Congress, judicial actors, and any others engaging in such behavior.” https://t.co/rYzPFJW4Jr
— RudyA Herrera Mármol (@rherreramarmol) October 1, 2023
Guatemala's government is yet to respond to the State Department's statement. On the other hand, the Public Ministry has stated that it acts in a fair and impartial manner to ensure full compliance with the law. Arevalo, a former diplomat and congressman, has accused prosecutors of carrying out a coup d'etat and engaging in a campaign of persecution against him and his party, Movimiento Semilla. In a public video, he declared that these actions could potentially lead to the nullification of the electoral results and the destruction of the democratic regime.
The concerns expressed by the US State Department are shared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. The High Commissioner, Volker Turk, highlighted the worrying actions taken by the Public Prosecutor's Office in recent weeks, which, when considered together, seem to be targeted at undermining the integrity of the electoral process and the rule of law in general.
The interference in the transition of power in Guatemala has raised concerns about the country's commitment to democratic norms. With visa restrictions being imposed by the US and international criticism mounting, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold. President-elect Arevalo is scheduled to assume office in January, and the eyes of the international community will be closely watching the developments in Guatemala.